Find The Best Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Near You (2025)

Common Types of Motorcycle Accidents

Riding a motorcycle comes with unique hazards. Some of the accidents motorcyclists most commonly face include:

• Left Turn: An oncoming car strikes a motorcycle making a left turn.
• Under the Influence: Drunk drivers may not see motorcyclists in time to prevent an accident.
• Single Motorcycle: Wet roads, potholes or other poor conditions cause a crash.
• Rear-End Collision: A car strikes the motorcycle from behind.

Sometimes, an accident may be a combination of types. For instance, you could be rear-ended by a driver under the influence.

What Happens After a Motorcycle Accident

Any sort of vehicle accident is scary, but motorcycle accidents can be particularly frightening. In many cases, there was very little between you and the road, and an accident can leave you injured or shaken. Here's what you should do after an accident:

Steps to Take Immediately After a Motorcycle Accident

• Take a Moment to Assess: Have you been injured? How badly? Are you at risk of being hit by additional traffic? If you cannot move on your own, ask someone else on the scene to assist you to a safe spot.
• Don’t Admit Fault: Saying anything that even suggests you may have contributed to the accident can make it harder to recover compensation.
• Contact the Authorities: Call the local authorities to report the accident. In some states and jurisdictions, you are required to do so. However, even if you're not required by law, you should call. If you need medical assistance, tell the authorities at this time.
• Take Pictures, if You Can Safely Do So: These pictures can be invaluable to your case later on.
• Exchange Insurance Information With Any Other Involved Drivers: Make sure you get the drivers' names and insurance numbers, as well as any information about the vehicles they were driving.
• Get Yourself Checked Out by a Medical Professional: If medical professionals are on the scene, let them examine you. Even if you feel fine, it's important to receive an examination. Some injuries might not show up until later. If there are no medical professionals on the scene, go to the emergency room or call your doctor for advice on what to do next.

After the Accident

• Call Your Insurance Company: If you have insurance, contact your company as soon as you can to report the accident. Your insurance company may want the information you collected from the other driver(s).
• Keep Track of Any Medical Receipts and Records: You may need to show proof of medical treatment. Keep anything that provides information about treatment you received.
• Follow Your Doctor's Instructions: Do not assume that, because you're feeling okay, you can disregard your doctor's advice. Ignoring medical instructions can hurt both your health and your potential legal case.

Receiving Compensation

• Evaluate Offered Settlements: In a perfect world, the insurance company will provide you with enough compensation to cover past and future medical bills, as well as any lost wages from time off work. But it’s often not that simple.
• Do Not Agree to a Settlement That Doesn't Cover Your Expenses. If the insurance company doesn't offer you enough, or if they dispute your claim entirely, do not accept it. Accepting a low settlement can severely limit your ability to receive additional compensation later on, especially if complications arise from your injuries.
• Speak With an Attorney at Any Point: You can hire a motorcycle accident attorney to assist you at any point along the way. An experienced lawyer will help you gather evidence, negotiate with the insurance company, and even take the case to trial if needed. Your attorney can handle many of the stressful aspects, such as negotiating a fair settlement.

Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries and Their Legal Implications

There are a number of potential types of injuries you may suffer in a motorcycle crash, such as:

• Broken bones
• Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Injuries leading to amputation

Generally, the worst motorcycle accident injuries tend to lead to higher settlements.

When awarding pain and suffering compensation, courts tend to look at several factors:

• The injury’s effect on your life
• Whether the injury caused a permanent disability
• Your prognosis
• Whether you’ll need ongoing medical care
• How much physical pain is involved

Your attorney can assess your injuries and give you an estimate of the compensation you may be able to receive.

Fight for Your Rights

• You Don't Have to Accept What's Offered: Insurance companies often aim to settle claims for as little as possible, regardless of what you may need. If the settlement offer is still too low, your attorney can continue negotiating on your behalf. If a fair settlement offer cannot be reached, the next step may be filing a personal injury lawsuit.
• Your Lawyer Will Be With You Every Step of the Way: You don't have to figure this out on your own. Your attorney will know the next steps to take and will advise you about your case. They’ll help ensure you’re not taken advantage of by insurers or other parties.

Why Motorcycle Accidents Are Different From Car Accidents

Motorcycle accidents come with substantial differences from accidents involving only cars. Perhaps most importantly, someone on a motorcycle doesn’t have the protection someone in a car does. This means that in an accident, a motorcyclist can be seriously injured or killed even when the driver of the car is unharmed.

A motorcyclist’s use of protective gear—or lack thereof—can also influence a motorcycle accident lawsuit. For instance, if you get hurt in a crash while not wearing a helmet, the other side might argue you were responsible for your injuries.

Why You Need a Qualified Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Many accident victims think they need to accept the first settlement amount that they're offered. Or, alternatively, the insurance company refuses to pay out at all, and the accident victim thinks they're at the end of the road. Neither of these things is necessarily true.

Motorcycle accidents often result in severe injuries, leading to high medical bills, long recovery periods, and in some cases, permanent disabilities. Without proper legal representation, you may be left footing the bill for expenses that should be covered.

An experienced motorcycle injury attorney can help you negotiate a settlement, and can represent you if the case needs to be taken to court. These lawyers have experience working with insurance companies and know how to negotiate to get you the settlement that you deserve.

According to the Insurance Research Council, people with attorneys receive settlements that are, on average, more than three times larger than those without legal representation. If you want the maximum amount possible for your case, it's in your best interest to hire an attorney.

How to Choose the Right Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Selecting the right attorney can take time, but it’s well worth your effort. You’ll want to consider several key considerations, from location to track record.

Location

Choosing a lawyer local to you is critically important. An attorney who understands the local court system may be much more likely to secure a positive outcome.

Experience

Ideally, you shouldn’t simply choose a lawyer experienced with car accidents. Motorcyclists face unique challenges, and a lawyer with motorcycle-specific experience can increase your chances of success.

Track Record

Experience is crucial, but so is success. Before making a choice, look at the lawyer’s record to see if they regularly win cases for their clients.

Reviews

Even the best attorneys may have a handful of negative reviews, but if the majority of reviews are positive, that’s typically a good sign.

How to Find the Best Injury Lawyer for Your Accident Case

• Ask Friends and Family: If you know someone who was injured in a motorcycle accident, ask who represented them. Did they like their attorney? Would they recommend them or their law firm?
• Look for an Attorney With Experience in Motorcycle Cases: Lawyers without experience in motorcycle injury cases can represent you, but you may be better off looking for an attorney who has experience with this sort of case.
• Ask Local Motorcycle Groups: If there is a local group of motorcycle enthusiasts, contact them to ask for recommendations. In some cases, they may have a personal injury attorney as a member. If not, they can often point you in the right direction.
• Schedule Free Initial Consultations: Most personal injury attorneys offer free initial consultations. These consultations are a great opportunity to ask about the lawyer’s experience, their approach to cases like yours, whether they think you have a strong case, and their fee structure. Use this time to evaluate whether the lawyer is someone you feel comfortable working with.
• Get Recommendations From ConsumerShield: We can help you find a qualified motorcycle accident attorney in your area. Just fill out the form on this page.

Free Case Evaluation for Motorcycle Accident Victims

If you've been injured in a motorcycle accident, it's hard to know where to turn. ConsumerShield is here to make the process easier. Fill out the form on this page and we'll connect you with an attorney who can help you. You don't need to handle this alone. With the right legal guidance, you can focus on recovery while your lawyer fights for the compensation you deserve.